Apple

A rumor about the 2017 iPhone lineup has us recall our iPhone SE review and the reasons why this phone has staying power. In that review by Chris Davies, it's mentioned that in this device is a reason for iPhone 5s (and earlier) owners to upgrade. Not because the iPhone SE is better than Apple's alternatives, but because the device fills a hole not addressed by any other phone company today.

The reaction to Apple's changes with the new MacBook Pro will vary depending on who you're talking to, but it would seem that the Apple faithful have come out in force for these new machines. According to a new report from Slice Intelligence, the new MacBook Pros have been quite successful out of the gate. Sales have managed to outpace not only Apple's competitors, but also the previous 12-inch MacBook.

While many search for "how to move to Canada" today, I just want to distract myself while I avoid burying my head in the sand. I feel bad about the world today, but I must remember that we live at a time where technology is magic and I have the opportunity to mobilize. The ways in which I choose to escape the world today include distractions that aren't distractions at all. Today I bring you a list of technology-driven activities that are fueled by hope for a better future - along with a few easy escapes if you're not quite there yet.

Not everyone who wants an iPhone may want to pay the full price for a shiny, completely brand new unit. Some might be satisfied with the most affordable deal that will land them a functional one. But the second-hand and refurbished market for iPhones isn't exactly a worry-free one, but now Apple is swooping in to save you from anxiety, and earn your money as well. Apple has just silently added iPhones to its list of refurbished products for sale, giving aspiring iPhone owners another route to their dream smartphone.

It’s pretty fashionable to hate dongles the past year or so. Since Apple introduced its USB-C reliant MacBook (you know, the 12-inch model), people have been lamenting the existence of cable add-ons. It’s a fair criticism, considering we’d gone so long with the spoils of ports donning the side of our MacBooks Pro and Air, but it’s time to turn the corner. In many ways, dongles are better than ports. No, really.

Google has detailed new updates coming to Gmail and Google Calendar on iOS, and if you use either of those apps, you probably won't want to miss them. Speaking about the Gmail update specifically, Google says this is the largest overhaul the iOS version has received in nearly four years. There's good reason for that claim, too, as this update brings a whopper of a feature with it: Undo Send.

Apple could technically kill off Lightning on the iPhone and still maintain an iron-fisted grip over its MFi program, but the outcry over a switch to USB-C might prove too costly for it to happen today. With the arrival of the new MacBook Pro there’s been no shortage of commentary about the ports you’ll find on your Apple smartphone versus those you now get on your Apple notebook, and a fair amount of that has not been flattering. The “Made For iPhone/iPod/iPad” MFi program has been blamed by many for that disparity, but it may not be quite the culprit it's accused of being.

The next Pokemon GO update will feature code for Generation 2, Pokemon Gold and Silver, and 101 new Pokemon. While Pokemon Gold and Silver, the Johto region, only generally have 100 extra Pokemon added to the Pokedex, this version of Pokemon GO also adds one of the monsters missing from the first build of the game. That new Pokemon is Ditto, the transforming Pokemon. This version of the game also adds one new move, specifically for Ditto: Transform.

When the Apple Watch launched, I eagerly bought into the hype and ended up with the wearable on my wrist. It was easily the best wearable I’d ever tried (I’d sampled plenty of Android Wear devices with Nexus handsets ahead of then, and no thanks). Over time, my excitement waned, and the Watch felt a lot like some sort of burden; another device to charge nightly. Now that new MacBooks Pro are here, I’m confident I’ll never buy another Apple Watch.

Earlier this year, Apple released the iPhone SE, featuring the iPhone 5's looks and several components from the more advanced iPhone 6s. It was meant to be a slightly more affordable model for those still wanting a 4-inch display, but avoided being seen as a cheap, entry-level device like the iPhone 5c was. Unfortunately, if you're among the users that the iPhone SE appealed to, it looks like Apple has no plans for a refresh in the first half of 2017.

With the opening of BlizzCon 2016 comes the announcement of Hearthstone's next expansion. Dubbed Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, players can expect to find more than 100 new cards in this expansion. However, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan will bring with it some new mechanics that even Hearthstone veterans may be surprised to see.